Employee Policy
Chief Human Capital Officers need to be empowered
Greater collaboration between CHCOs and agency execs, as well as with OPM, is needed to upgrade hiring and retention in the federal workforce.
Benefits
Bill offers short-term disability insurance for feds
A bill just re-introduced in Congress, if passed, would let feds purchase short-term disability insurance at reasonable rates.
Updated
Management
A New Rule Aims to Boost Biden’s ‘Made in America’ Program
The update to the Buy American Act would build on the administration’s push to get federal agencies using more domestic products and services.
Tech
Social Security Seeks $2.4B in IT Funding and Looks Ahead After 5-Year Modernization Plan
Included in the ask is more than $1.5 billion in IT services, representing a 40% increase over the previous year.
Defense
Air Force Special Operations Is Looking To Reinvent Itself On the Cheap
Cargo planes that drop cruise missiles from pallets and land on water show how air special operators are trying to trick out what they’ve already got on the tarmac.
Workforce
Coronavirus Roundup: DOJ Amps Up its COVID-19 Fraud Efforts
Here’s a list of this week’s news updates and stories you may have missed.
Oversight
House Panel Advances DHS Acquisition Bills
Two bills seeking to improve oversight of the Department of Homeland Security’s acquisition programs were passed out of committee in a markup on Wednesday, along with a number of other measures.
Defense
The U.S. and Russia Agree to a Deconfliction Hotline As Putin’s Attack On Ukraine Escalates
Russia has fired almost 500 missiles at Ukrainian targets.
Oversight
What’s Holding Up the COVID Vaccines for Children Under 5?
For months, parents have been told COVID vaccines for their little ones are coming. But opaque communication from the FDA, shifting timelines, delays and misinformation have left parents frustrated and confused. Here’s everything we know at the moment.
Oversight
GovExec Daily: What Ketanji Brown Jackson Will Face on the Road to Confirmation
Dr. Emerald Christopher-Byrd joins the podcast to discuss Biden's Supreme Court nominee.
Employee Policy
MSPB: Fed employee appeals board is functioning again
Senate takes action on MSPB nominees for the first time in five years.
Workforce
Denied Protest Offers Lessons About Hiring Former Feds
Important questions about hiring former government officials are raised in this lost protest over a $2.5 billion NASA enterprise IT contract, which all parties made reasonable arguments in.
Defense
Russia’s Invasion Will Boost 2023 Defense Budget, Top Democrat Says
Rep. Adam Smith: Putin’s war “fundamentally altered what our national security posture” needs to be.
Oversight
‘Deeply Disturbing’ Watchdog Report Examines How Interior Handled FOIA Requests Under Trump
Other agencies have in the past put the record requests through additional reviews.
Management
Chief Human Capital Officers Need to Be Empowered to Really Transform Federal HR, Experts Say
More collaboration between chief human capital officers and agency executives and the Office of Personnel Management is needed to improve the hiring and retention of the federal workforce.
Pay & Benefits
The Normal Retirement Age May Be on the Way Up
It’s one way to help keep Social Security solvent.
Tech
Cross-Agency Collaboration Key to FOIA Challenges
Increasing the speed and accuracy of FOIA processing not only benefits an agency’s employees by freeing up their time, but it also builds public trust when government agencies efficiently address citizens' concerns.
Management
The White House Has Details on Its Plan to Bring More Feds Back in April
Agencies across government will take on new responsibilities and offer more in-person services under Biden's new COVID-19 preparedness plan.
Defense
It’s ‘Effectively Impossible’ To Kick Russia Out Of The UN, But There Are Other Options
Diplomats could remove Russia from the human rights council or refuse to recognize a Russian-backed government in Ukraine, experts say.
Defense